South-Carolina
South Carolina considers its energy future through state Senate committee
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate on Thursday started its homework assignment of coming up with a comprehensive bill to guide energy policy in a rapidly growing state and amid a quickly changing power- generation world.
The Special Committee on South Carolina’s Energy Future plans several meetings through October. On Thursday, the committee heard from the leaders of the state’s three major utilities. Future meetings will bring in regular ratepayers, environmentalists, business leaders and experts on the latest technology to make electricity,
The Senate took this task upon itself. They put the brakes a massive 80-plus page energy overhaul bill that passed the House in March in less than six weeks, and the bill died at the end of the session.
Many senators said the process earlier this year was rushed. They remembered the last time they trusted an overhaul bill backed by utilities.
State-owned Santee Cooper and private South Carolina Electric & Gas used those rules passed 15 years ago to put ratepayers on the hook for billions of dollars spent on two new nuclear reactors that never generated a watt of power before construction was abandoned because of rising costs.
But those dire memories are being mixed with dire predictions of a state running out of power.
Unusually cold weather on Christmas Eve 2022 along with problems at a generating facility nearly led to rolling blackouts in South Carolina. Demand from advanced manufacturing and data centers is rising. If electric cars grow in popularity, more power is needed. And a state that added 1.3 million people since 2000 has a lot more air conditioners, washing machines and charges for devices, the utility leaders said.
Senators stopped Duke Energy’s president in South Carolina, Mike Callahan, in middle of his presentation after he told them his utility’s most recent predictions for growth in electricity usage over the rest of this decade were eight times more than they were just two years ago.
“Growth is here, and much more is coming. We need clear energy policy to plan for that growth,” Callahan said,
The utility leaders told senators their companies need to know what kind of sources of power — natural gas, solar, nuclear, wind or others — the state wants to emphasize. They would like to have a stable rules from regulators on how they operate.
“A quick no is a lot better to us than a long-term maybe,” Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton said.
Another complicating factor are federal rules that may require utilities to shut down power plants that use coal before there are replacements with different sources online, Staton said.
Others aren’t so sure the state needs a rapid increase in power generation. Environmentalists have suggested the 2022 problems that led to blackouts were made worse because power plants were nowhere near capacity and better cooperation in the grid would allow electricity to get to where its needed easier.
Those less bullish on the overhaul also are urging the state not to lock in on one source of power over another because technology could leave South Carolina with too much power generation in inefficient ways.
There will likely be plenty of discussion of data centers that use a lot of electricity without the number of jobs, property taxes or other benefits a manufacturer provides.
Staton estimated about 70% of Santee Cooper’s increased demand is from data centers.
“We clearly need them. I don’t want to go back in time,” committee chairman Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said. “What I’m trying to get at is a better understanding, a better handle on how much of the projected growth is based on data centers or on everything else.”
Massey has been hard on Dominion Energy, which bought South Carolina Electric & Gas after the abandoned nuclear project at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. But Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam said it is important that all options, including a new nuclear plant, remain on the table.
“Everybody thinks if we build anything that we’re going to absolutely repeat what we did with V.C. Summer” Kissam said. “Well, I promise you, that ain’t gonna happen. OK? I’ll pack up and leave.”
Massey’s goal is to have a bill ready by the time the 2025 session starts in January.
South-Carolina
Clemson vs. South Carolina odds: Current line, win probability, final score prediction, how to watch
An in-state rivalry will be one of the better games during tonight’s slate in college basketball with No. 25 Clemson vs. South Carolina playing in Columbia.
Clemson (9-2) is coming in off of their second loss of the season at home and in overtime to Memphis. Through 11 games, the Tigers have had their good, though, namely an upset of Kentucky along with wins over Penn State and Miami while their losses are decent ones on the resumé. However, another win over the Southeastern Conference, especially on the road over their rival, would look that much better for them as one of the better teams out of the ACC.
South Carolina (7-3) is, despite that record, technically the worst team in the SEC with the three losses. Since an upset loss in their opener to North Florida, the Gamecocks have won seven of their games, although against easier competition as they’ve lost their two games against quality teams so far in Indiana and Xavier. Still, a win tonight would be the best of their season by far to this point.
Odds for Clemson vs. South Carolina
Per the lines at FanDuel, Clemson is a 1.5-point favorite (-110) on the road tonight. That has South Carolina at (+105) at home on the moneyline.
The over/under for the matchup is then set at 134.5 with the odds leaning towards the under at (-115)
Final score predictions for Clemson vs. South Carolina
BPI Predicted winner: Clemson
BPI Predicted point differential: 3.3
BPI Win Probability (for Clemson): 62.8%
BPI Matchup Quality: 78.5
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) is predicting a win for the Tigers by just over a possession. It’s projecting one at a likelihood of 62.8%.
As for the matchup quality, Clemson vs. South Carolina is the third highest-rated game of the night behind only North Carolina vs. No. 9 Florida in the Jumpman Invitational and then George Mason vs. No. 5 Duke.
KenPom Predicted final score: Clemson 68, South Carolina 66
KenPom Win probability (for Clemson): 59%
KenPom is also predicting a close win for Clemson tonight. It is projecting a two-point win for the Tigers at a slightly lesser likelihood of 59%.
How to watch Clemson vs. South Carolina
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Channel: SEC Network, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, South Carolina)
South-Carolina
South Carolina, UCLA, Duke and Texas women to play in round-robin tournament in Las Vegas in 2025
South Carolina, UCLA, Duke and Texas will play in a round-robin tournament in Las Vegas next year during Thanksgiving week.
The Players Era Women’s Championship will allow the opportunity for athletes on each team to engage in at least $1 million of NIL activities with the title group and sponsors.
“Players Era is creating the first-ever tentpole women’s college basketball MTE with an unbelievably loaded field and fascinating storylines, early season matchups that are sure to set the tone for the rest of the season,” said Players ERA CEO Seth Berger. “Our women’s championship includes the same level of guaranteed NIL opportunities for the players as the men’s championship.”
The event will coincide with the men’s Players Era Festival that debuted at MGM Grand Garden Arena last month. Oregon won the men’s championship by topping Alabama 83-81.
Each of the women’s teams will play the other three teams. South Carolina faced Duke and UCLA already this season and will play Texas in-conference as the Longhorns moved to the SEC this year.
“We’re excited to be among the first women’s teams invited to play in the Players Era Women’s Championship,” said South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. “This innovative event brings together everything we’re looking for – quality games early in the season, a great location for fans to come and enjoy, and NIL opportunities for our players.”
The four teams are currently in the top 10 of the poll, with UCLA and South Carolina 1-2. Texas is sixth and Duke is ninth. The Bruins topped the Gamecocks in November to end the defending champions’ 43-game winning streak.
“As a program striving to consistently compete at a championship level, it’s essential to measure ourselves against the best,” said UCLA coach Cori Close. “We’re excited for a rematch with South Carolina and the opportunity to compete against other exceptional programs at the Player’s Era Women’s Championship. This will be the premier out of conference tournament with a national audience to boot. It is a great honor to be included in this elite event.“
Justice Haynes, the No. 1 running back in the transfer portal, has rescheduled his visit to South Carolina for Thursday, December 19, per multiple reports. Originally planned for today and tomorrow, the former Alabama standout will now head to Columbia later this week.
Haynes, a five-star recruit in the 2023 class, remains one of the most sought-after players in the portal. South Carolina continues to be in the mix for the talented back as programs across the country look to secure his commitment.
Stay tuned to Gamecock Digest for further updates on Haynes’ recruitment.
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